Box-making machine



Feb. 22, 1938. G. SEIF'ERT BOX MAKING MACHINE Fild Feb. 15, 1957 7Sheets-Sheet l NN NR .NW

I N V EN TOR: Guye OZefirt, B Y

A TTORNEYI Feb. 22, 1938. 5 E E BOX MAKING MACHINE '7 SheetsSheet 2Filed Feb. 15, 1937 A TTORNEY.

,- INVENTOR:

Feb. 22, 1938. G SEIFERT 2,109,359

BOX MAK ING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR:

Egg \g B Y eo ye efieri,

5 ATTORNEY.

Feb. 22, 1938. s. SEIFERT BOX MAKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1937 7Sheets-Sheet 4 A TTORNEY.

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Feb. 22, 1938.- G. SEIFERT I BOX MAKING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledFeb. 15, 1937 mmN INVENTOR As ez' rt A TTORNEY.

Feb. 22, 1938. G. sElFlERT BOX "MAKING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 FiledFeb. 15, 1957 R W MM KPN ATTORNEY.

Feb. 22, 1938. G. SEIFERT BOX MAKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1957 7Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR- l'ey'ie i, M

A TTORNEY.

. NNN

Patented Feb. 22, 1938 BOX-MAKING MACHINE George Seifert, BeverlyHills'Township, Los

Angeles County, Calif.

Application February 15, 1937, Serial No. 125,733

9 Claims.

This invention relates to box-making machines, and the general object ofthe invention is to provide a machine for automatically folding andstitching fiber board or corrugated paper boxes.

Another object is to provide a-machine of the character stated whichwill be rapid, accurate andeconomical in operation.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings which form a partof this specification and :in which,

Fig. '1 is a side elevation of my invention.

Fig. 2 is anend elevation of the delivery end of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of my invention.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical section, takenon line 44 of Fig. 3, illustrating the hopper and feed for the unfoldedbox blanks.

Fig.5 is an enlarged fragmentarylongitudinal vertical section, taken online 5-5 of Fig. 6, .illustrating the box feeding mechanism.

7 Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 5.

Fig. .7 is a fragmentary front elevation of the air gun box :foldingmechanism taken on line 1'l'l 'of;Fig. 3.

Fig.,8'is a side view of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged side view of the mechanism for positioning the boxafter it is folded.

:Fig. 10-is a front view of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a side view of the box straightening ;mech anism.

Fig. l2is afront view of Fig. 11.

33 :Fig. 13 is an enlarged side elevation of the tripmechanism foroperating the stitching mechanism.

Fig. 14 is an end view of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is an enlarged end view ofthe con- 49 trol valve mechanism for the box-folding air guns.

.Fig. 16 is a side view of Fig. 15.

Fig.1? is a section of the air gun control valve taken on linell-|'i ofFig. 16.

Figs. 18 to 23 inclusive are perspectives of one of the box blanks,illustrating respectively the successive folding and other operationsthereof by themachine.

24 is an enlarged plan view of one of the box feed units shown engaginga box blank in its normal feeding operation. 7 "Figu25 visa view likeFig. 24, except that the box blank is shown held stationary, while the,staplesare being driven through its overlapping edges, and the feedingmechanism is shown moved forward until the stop sleeves are engagedbetween the supporting bar and the engaging bar, for centering theoverlapping edges of the box during the stapling operation.

Fig. 26 is-a-schematic view of the box folding means.

Fig. 27 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale of one {of thevalves of the box-feeding means.

.Fig. 28 is-a side elevation of a modification of thetrip mechanism forcontrolling the stapling machine.

Fig. .29 is aside view of the .trip cam of the trip mechanism showninFig. 28.

Fig. 30 is an edge view of the cam shown in Fig. 29.

Referring more .particularly to the drawings in which correspondingparts are designated by the same reference characters .in all of thefigures, my invention comprises generally ahopper I for the box blanksto be folded and stitched, feeding means 2 .for the box blanks, firstfolding .meansfi,secondfolding meansA, jogging means 5,,straighteningmeans 5, and stitching means 1.

The various mechanisms of -my machine are k mounted on;a frame 8including uprights 9, longitudinal beams .15] ,mountedon the upper endsofsaid uprightscross beams H mounteclon said longitudinal beams 10, a table l2 mounted on said cross beams, a base member t3 connected .totheuprights 9 near .their lowerends, and angle braces M connecting adjacentuprights 9.

-The hopper .l is mounted at the front end of themachine, and'comprisesapair of spaced vertically disposed walls .15, adjustably mounted abovethetable 12 on a of superimposed horizontal rods 16 extendingtransversely over the table 1,2, which rodsare secured at their ends tothe upperend portionsof .a pair of 'uprights ll respectively which arepositioned adjacent theside edges respectively of the table 12 p and areconnectednear their lower ends to the base member -l3-by connections l8.Sleeves [9 are slidably fittedbn the crossrodslfi and are formed.Withshanks-Zfl secured to the outer sides P of the hopper walls 15whereby said walls areslidably mountedpn said. cross rods, so that they'may: be ;moved toward or away from each other to receive between' themunfoldedboxes 2l'of different sizes. Set screws 22 are seated in thesleeves IQ for engaging th e rods 16 for securingthe hopperwalls [5 inthe differentpositions on saidrods to whichthey are adjusted to receivethebox blanks off difierent sizes.

Theboxfeeding mechanism 2 includes a plurality of feed units 23 mountedon a pair of chains 24 extending longitudinally of the machine oversprockets 25 and 26 secured on shafts 2! and 28, respectively, whichshafts are journaled in bearings 29 and 38, respectively, mounted on theunder side of the table 2 at the front and rear ends thereofrespectively. The upper reaches of said chains extend throughlongitudinal slots 3i in the table l2, so that the feed units 23 on saidupper reaches of said chains are drawn over the table l2 from the frontto the rear end of said table, as said chains are caused to travel oversaid sprockets 25 and 26, by means of driving mechanism 32;, whichincludes a motor 33, pulley 34 on the motor shaft 35, reduction gear 36,belt 31 extending over the motor pulley 34 and drive pulley 38 of thereduction gear 36, driven sprocket 39 of said reduction gear, a drivesprocket 46 on the feed chain drive shaft 28, drive sprocket 4! on thedrive shaft 42 of the straightening mechanism 6, drive sprocket 43 onthe drive shaft 44 of the jogging mechanism 5, and a chain 45 extendingover said sprockets 39, 48, 4|, and 43. The motor 33 and the reductiongear 36 are mounted on the base member [3 near the rear end of themachine. A feed guide bar 46 extends longitudinally and centrally overthe table i2 from the hopper l to the stitching mechanism 1 between thechains 24 and is secured at its front'end to the under side of an arm 41which is mounted at its forward end, by sleeves 48 formed thereon andfitted on the cross rods I6 of the hopper 5. Each of the feeding units23 comprises a supporting bar 48 and a box-engaging bar 50 yieldinglymounted on said supporting bar by means of rods 5| and springs 52. Thebars 49 and 58 extend transversely of the machine and the ends of thesupporting bar 49 are secured to the chains 24 respectively. The rods 5|are secured in the engaging bar 58 and slidably extend through bearings53 on the under side of the supporting bar 49, and the rods 5! areformed at one end with heads 54 for engaging the outer ends of thebearings 53 for limiting the movement of the engaging bar 58 away fromthe supporting bar 49 under the influence of the springs 52, whichsurround the rods 5|, between the bars 49 and 58, with their endsengaging said bars respectively. The engaging bar 58 is formedintermediate its ends with a pair of spaced upstanding box-engaging lugs55. Sleeves 52 surround the springs 52 respectively, and the ends ofsaid sleeves are adapted to engage the adjacent edges of the supportingbar 49 and the engaging bar 58 to limit the forward movement of the bar46, against the tension of said springs, when the bar 58 is momentarilyheld stationary by the engagement of the rear edges of the box with thelugs 55 on said bar 58, while the staples are driven through theover-lapping edges of the box by the stitching machine '5, in the mannerhereinafter more particularly described. Rollers 53' are journaled atthe rear of engaging bar 58, in brackets 54' mounted on said bar, forengaging the under side of the next lowest box blank and lifting saidblank and the blanks above it slightly, so that the lowest blank,engaged by the lugs 55 of the engaging bar 58, may be more easily fedfrom under the blanks above it by the feed unit 23. A pair of spacedbox-supporting bars 58 are secured to the table outwardly from eachchain 24, within the hopper and the inner ends of each pair of said barsextend over said chains respectively, at a sufficient distance abovesaid chains to allow the feed-unit bars 50 and 49 to pass under them,while the inner ends of both pairs of said box-supporting bars 56 extendonly a short distance over said chains, so that the boxengaging lugs 55on the feed unit bars 50 may pass between said inner ends of saidbox-supporting bars 56. A transverse vertical stop plate 5'! is mountedat the rear of the hopper l on the sleeves 48 with its lower edge 58positioned only sufficiently above the table l2 to permit the lowermostbox 21 to be fed rearwardly out of the hopper by a feed unit 23. Atopposite sides respectively of the guide bar 46 are positioned a pair ofguide and folding bars 59 extending longitudinally of the table l2,which bars are mounted at their forward ends, by means of cross members68, on the rear end of the arm 41, and rest slightly above the surfaceof the table I2, so that two adjoining walls of a box 2| may be fedunder said bars 59 respectively, while the other two walls of the boxmay be folded respectively over said bars by the folding means 3 and 4,and the box may be guided by the engagement of the outer edges of saidbars with the inside of two corners respectively of the folded box, asthe box is fed rearwardly by a feed unit 23.

The first folding means 3 includes a pair of cylinders 6i, mounted atopposite sides respectively of the machine, pistons 62 reciprocativelymounted in said cylinders respectively, and piston rods 83 secured insaid pistons respectively and extending through both ends of saidcylinders respectively, the folding ends of said piston rods beingformed with heads 64 for engaging the sides of the box to be folded, andthere being adjustable stops secured on the lower end portions of saidpiston rods for engaging the lower ends of the cylinders 85 for limitingthe folding movement of the pistons 62 and piston rods 63. Packing boxes86 and 66 surrounding the piston rods 53 are provided in the lower andupper ends of the cylinders 6| respectively. The cylinders 6! areprovided with ports 61 and 68 in their lower ends and upper endsrespectively. The stops 65 are in the form of clamps including screws 68for securing the stops in different positions, to which they areadjusted on the piston rods 63. Each of the cylinders BI is adjustablymounted on the frame 8 of the machine by means of a clamp l0, link H,and a clamp bolt 72 which extends through the upper end of said link andthrough a horizontal slot 13 in one of the cross beams H of the frame 8,the clamp '58 embracing the cylinder 6! and the lower end of the link Hbeing secured to said clamp by the clamp bolt 14. Upon loosening theclamp bolt 72 said bolt may be moved along the slot 13 for adjusting theposition of the cylinder 6! to its proper folding position in whichposition the cylinder is secured by tightening the clamp bolt 12. Thetable I2 is provided with openings i5 through which the piston rods 63are projected for folding two sides of the box upwardly. The pistons 62and piston rods 63 are operated by compressed air supplied to thecylinders 6! by an air compressor 76, and air storage tank ll, throughpipe 18 leading from said tank, branch pipe 19 leading from said pipei8, valve 86, connected to said branch pipe, pipes 8i and 82 leadingfrom said valve, pipes 83 and 84 connected to said pipes 81 and 82respectively, control valves 85 connected to the ends respectively ofpipe 83, hose 86 leading from said check valves respectively to thelower end ports 61 respectively of cylinders 6|, and hose 8! leadingfrom the ends respectively of pipe 84 to the upper end ports 68respectively of said cylinders -6I. The compressor 1.6'is driven-by themotor 32 through a pulley 88 onmotor'shaft :35,-pulley 89 on compressorshaft 99, and a :belt 91 extending over said pulleys. From the outlet ofthe compressor a pipe 92 leadsintothe storage tank 11. a 1

The second-folding means 4 includes a pair of cylinders-93 mounted onframes '94 supported on opposite sides ofithe table I2 respectively,pistons 19.5 reciprocativelymounted in said cylinders respectively, andpiston rods '96 secured in said pistons respectively and extendingthrough both ends of said cylinders, respectively, the lower foldingends of said piston rods being. formed withrheads 91 for engaging theupwardly folded sides respectively of the box for folding said sidesdownwardly, there being adjustable stops 598 secured on the upperend'portions of said piston rods respectively for engaging the upperends of said cylinders 93 respectively :for limit- .ing the downward.folding movement of the pistons 9.5 and piston rods 96. Packing boxes99 and I90 in the lower and upper ends respectively Jofcylinders 93surround the piston rods 96 respectively. The stops 98 are in the formof .clamps including screws I9I for securing the stops in differentpositions on the piston rods .96-to which they are adjusted. .Each ofthe sup- :porting frames 94 for the cylinders '93 comprises a pair ofstandards I92, secured at their lower :ends upon the table I2, and ahorizontal cross :bar I93 secured at its ends to the upper .endsrespectively of said standards. Each cylinder 9.3-.is adjustably mountedon thecross bar :i93 of a frame 94 by means of an upstanding :arm L94,secured on said cross bar, and a clamp "195 embracing the cylinder 93,said clamp being .pivotally secured tothe upper end of said arm :by-theclamp'bolt 1.99, whereby the. cylinder .is longitudinally adjustablymounted in said clamps and pivotally mounted on said clamp bolt. The'istons .95 and rods 9.5.are operated by the compressed air from thetank19 which air is supplied from said tank through pipe 18, branch :pipe191 leading from said pipe 18, valve I98 connectedjto said branch pipe,pipes I99 and 11.9 leading from said valve, pipes "III and -I I2connected to said pipes I99-and II9 respectively,

:-.check valves 3 connected to the ends respec- :tively of said pipe I II, hose IM leading from :said check valves'respectively to ports H5 in"theupper ends of cylinders '93 respectively, and .-hose I16 leadingfrom the ends respectively of :pipe M2 to ports H1 in the lower endsrespectively of said cylinders. j 7

EEach valve 89 and I98 is providedwith an exhaust "port H8 and with twoports I I9 and I29 :in its rotary plug I2I. Thejvalves 8.9 .and L98are-automatically operated respectively'by valve- .operating mechanismsI22 and I23, which are identical in construction and a description of:valveeoperating mechanism I22 will apply 'to valve-operating:mechanism123. The valve-operating mechanism I22 includes a pinion I24,. se-

curedon thevalve plug shaft I25, in mesh with a gear'i25, secured on ashaft i21, on which shaft is:also secured a ratchet I28 engaged-by. .apawl I29 pivoted by pin I39 on the outer end of anarm I3! turnablymounted on shaft 521, whichpin *f39:also carries a roller I32 engagedbya cam I33 secured on a shaft 134, on whichshaft is also secured-asprocket I35 over which travels a chain -I36, which chain'also travelsover the corresponding sprocket 135 of the valve-controlling mechanism1230f valve I98, and overa sprocket IL31-secured on the shaft-M of thejoggingmechanismi5. The shaft I21 is journaled in a bearing I38 mountedon one'of the horizontal beams :I'9 of the frame 8. The valve 89 ismounted .on a

bracket I39 secured'to said beam I9. The shaft 134 is ijournaled inbearings I49 mounted .o'nlone of the. cross beams II of the frame -8.Thecam 1:33 is formed with a pair of cam members Ill and 1.4.2 'whichalternately engage the pawl-arm roller .132. a

The joggingmechanism :5 includes a pair of power driven lower pressurerollers I59 :and a "pair .of power .driven upper pressure rollers I5Ifor engaging the lower and upper sides respectively of the folded boxtoadvance the box allittle faster than it isfed by the. feedingmechanism -12 and .move the rear edge of the box forwardly-of thebox-engaging 'bar 59 ofits feed unit :23, so

that .therear edges of the folde-dsides of the "box,

opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the table 12 andthe tableis" provided with slots 1153 through which the rollers I59 move up .ordown for engaging or disengaging the undersideof'the :box. 'ThetrollersI59 are secured :on .a'shaft :I.5. l

extending transversely of and';under-the table I2 I and .is journaled atits ends in "bearings 15.5 "on the forward ends of arpair of {arms 156,which armsare secured at their rear-ends onza shaftaIS-I extendingtransversely .of andunder the table 'I2 and 'journaled at its ends inbearings 4:58 mounted on the under side of said table. are .securedon ashaft .159 :extendingztrans- The rollers versely 'of and above. "thetable I 2 "and journaled at its ends in bearings I69 on thetforward endsof a pair of-arms It! which are securedattheir rear ends on a shaft 182extending transversely of and above the table I2 and journaled at itsends inbearings I63 upstanding from saidzta'ble.

A shaft 154 extends transversely of and-under the-tableau andjisjournaled at its endsin bearings 155 mounted upon the longitudinal'beamsI9, onone end of which shaft are secured apair of arms 1'96 and IE1, anda depending cam arm "[59 which engages a cam I69 secured on the driveshaft. A link llfl connects the arm I65 and thelower arm I56-and alinkt-TI 'connectsthe arm i6! and the upper roller .arm ISI throughwhich links the .rollers 59 and I-5I areswung toward or away from eachother .bytlie engage- ;mentof the cam arm 153 with the cam I59. :A

sprocket I12 over'whichthe chain :45 travels is secured on a shaft 1:13extending transversely of the machine, between thelongitudinal beams l9and the table 12 and is journaled at itsends in bearings I14 mounted onsaid beams respectively. :On said shaft I13 is secured-a'sprocketI15:and on the shaft I59 is secured asprocket I19 over whichsprocketssextends a'chain I 11. 5A sprocket I19 is also secured on theshaft 1359. and

I54, over which sprockets loosely extends achain a sprocket H9 issecuredion'the lower roller. shaft The straightening :means 5 includes,a 'pairiof .lower'rollers I82and a pair of upper ;rollers l:83

for engagingthe lower side ;and: the upperffolded sides respectivelyofthe folded-box for straightening the overlapping edges of the foldedsides with relation to each other, so that said edges will be positionedproperly for stitching the same together by the stitching machine 'I.The rollers of each of said pairs I82 and I83 are spaced a shortdistance apart at opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the tableI2, and said table is provided with slots I84 through which the rollersI82 move up or down for engaging or disengaging the under side of thebox. The rollers of each pair I82 and I 83 are also disposed at an angleto the longitudinal center of the table so that they converge in therearward direction of the machine, which causes them to apply pressureto the folded sides of the box to straighten the overlapping edges ofsaid sides in position for stitching as above described. The rollers I82are journaled to rotate freely in yokes I85 which are formed withdepending stud pivots I86 extended through the outer ends of arms I8'Irespectively, which arms are secured at their rear ends on a rock shaftI88 journaled inbrackets I89 secured to the under side of the table I2.

. The lower ends of the yoke studs I86 are threaded to receive nuts I90which engage the lower sides of the arms I81 for adjustably securing theyokes I85 and their rollers I82 in their adjusted angular positions. Thebrackets I89 are formed with threaded lugs I9I to receive the upper endsof bolts I92 which are extended upwardly through the arms I8'I with theheads of said bolts engaging the under sides of said arms for supportingthe same, together with the yokes I85 and rollers I82 in operativeposition. Stop nuts I93 are fitted on the bolts I92 for engaging theupper sides of the arms I81 and locking the bolts I92 against turningwith said arms adjusted and properly positioning the rollers I82. Therollers I83 are journaled to rotate freely in yokes I94 which are formedwith upstanding stud pivots I95 extended through the outer ends of armsI96 respectively, which arms are secured at their rear ends on a rockshaft I91 journaled in brackets I88 secured to the upper side of thetable I2.

F The upper ends of the yoke studs I95 are threaded to receive nuts I99which engage the upper sides of the arms I96 for adjustably securing theyokes I94 and their rollers I83 in their adjusted angular positions. Thebrackets I96 are formed with threaded lugs 200 to receive the lower endsof bolts 20I which are extended downwardly through the arms I96 withtheir heads engaging the upper sides of said arms for supporting saidarms, together with the yokes I94 and their rollers I83 in operativeposition. Stop nuts 202 are fitted on the bolts 20I for engaging theunder sides of the arms I96 and locking the bolts 20! against turningwith said arms adjusted and properly positioning the rollers I83. A camarm 203 is secured at its rear end on the rock shaft I88 and carries onits forward end a roller 204 which engages a cam 205 secured on thedrive shaft 42, of the straightening mechanism 6. A spring 203 isconnected to said cam arm 203 and to the table I2 for raising therollers I82, into straightening contact with the lower side of thefolded box, when the low parts of the cam 205 are brought opposite thecam roller 204. The engagement of the high parts of the cam205 with thecam roller 204 lowers the rollers I 82 out of contact with the lowerside of said box after the upper folded sides of the box have beenstraightened for stitching the overlapping edges of said folded sidestogether. To the rock shaft I9! is secured the rear end of a cam arm 206which is pivotally connected at its forward end at 20'! to the upper endof a vertical link 208, which extends downwardly through an opening 209in the table I2 and through a bearing 2I0 mounted on said table, andcarries at its lower end a roller 2I I for engaging the cam 205 forlowering the upper straightening rollers I83 into straightening contactwith the folded sides of the box, for straightening said sides forstitching the overlapping edges of said sides together, and for raisingsaid straightening rollers out of straightening contact with said foldedsides of the box when said sides have been straightened by said rollersand the box has been fed to the stitching machine I.

The stitching means I comprises a conventional stapling machine 2I2driven by its own motion and a control mechanism 2I3. The staplingmachine H2 is mounted on the floor on which my invention is mounted, sothat the stapling elements of said stapling machine are positioned todrive staples through the overlapping edges of the folded sides of thebox and clinch the ends of the driven staples against the under side ofthe overlapping edge of the lower folded side of the box. The stitchingcontrol mechanism 2I3 includes a horizontal dog bar 2| 4, a plurality ofdogs 2I5 adjustably mounted on said bar, triggers 2I6 secured on thebars 49 of the feed units 23 respectively, a pair of rock arms 2I'I and2I8 connected at their upper ends to the ends respectively of the dogbar 2I4, a pair of rock shafts 2I9 and 220 on which said rock arms arerespectively secured, a crank arm 22I secured on the rock shaft 220, anda link 222 connected at its upper end to said crank arm 22I and at itslower end to the clutch operating treadle 223 of the stapling machine 2.The rock shaft 2I9 extends acrossthe machine and is journaled inbearings 224 mounted on the lower side of the longitudinal beams I0 ofthe frame of the machine, and the rock shaft 220 also extends across themachine and. is journaled in bearings 225 mounted on the lower side ofsaid longitudinal beams. Each of the dogs 2I5 is provided with a slot226 through which the bar 2I4 extends and a set screw 221 is seated inthe dog for engaging the bar 2I4, whereby the dogs are adjusted to theirproper operative positions and detachably secured in such positions onsaid bar. The bar 2I4 is formed with its upper edge offset downwardly at228, on which edge one or more dogs 2I5 may be positioned so that theirupper leveled edges 229 will rest below and out of reach and operativerelation to the triggers 2I6 when said dogs are not needed, the numberof dogs needed depending upon the number of staples to be driven by thestapling machine 2 through the overlapping edges of the folded sides ofthe box. A spring 230 is connected to one end of the dog bar H5 and toone of the longitudinal beams I0 of the frame of the machine, as at 23I,for returning said bar and the dogs 2I5 thereon to their initialpositions, each time a dog has been engaged by a trigger 2I6 and thetrigger has escaped the dog, for operating the clutch treadle 223 of thestapling machine 2I I, so that a staple will be driven by said machinethrough the overlapping edges of the folded sides of a box.

The operation of my invention is as follows:

The unfolded boxes 2 I, as shown in Figs. 4 and 18 of the drawings,being stacked horizontally in the hopper I with the lowermost boxresting upon the supporting bars 56,, and the various operatingmechanisms of the machine being driven by Figs. 7 and of the drawings.

'arm 22l, link 222 and treadle lever 223 and. its connections, whichcauses said stapling machine the driving mechanism 33, a feed unit 23 ismoved by the chains 24 into the forward end. of the hopper I, so thatthe lugs 55 on the bar 50 of said feed unit engage the rear edge of thelowermost box in the hopper and feed said box forwardly out of saidhopper under the lower edge 58 of the stop plate 51 at the forward endof the hopper I, onto the table I2, the next lower box in the hopperdropping upon the supporting bars 55 in the hopper I, whereupon thesides 2% of the box which is fed onto the table are engaged by the heads64 on the upper ends of the piston rods 53 of the first foldingmechanism 3, and said sides are folded upwardly into vertical positionby said first folding mechanism as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7 andas illustrated in Fig. 19. Thefeeding mechanism 2 continuing to feed thebox forwardly on the table I2, the heads '9'! on the lower ends of thepiston rods of the second folding mechanism 4 engage the verticallyfolded sides of the box and said sides are folded, by said secondfolding mechanism, downwardly flat upon the unfolded sides of the box,as illustrated in The folded box is then fed forwardly by the feedingmechanism 2 between the lower rollers I55 and the upper rollers I5I ofthe jogging mechanism 5, whereupon said lower rollers are moved upagainst the under side of the box, by the cam I69 through the medium ofcam arm I58, arm I55, link I35 and roller arm I55, while the upperrollers I5l are moved down against the folded sides 243 of the box bythe cam I59, cam arm 558, arm I61, link I?! and roller arm IfiI, and thebox, gripped between said rollers is moved forwardly by said rollersfaster than the feeding mechanism 2 and away from the feed bar 55 of thefeed unit 23, so that the rear edges of the folded sides of the box,which might be resting upon the lugs 55 of said feed bar, on account ofsaid sides of the box not being folded square, will drop down upon theunfolded sides of the box, whereupon said rear edges will be positionedto be engaged by the forward sides of said feed bar lugs, when the boxpasses beyond said jogging rollers, and said lugs on the feed unit 23catch up with the box, as illustrated in Fig. 21. When said feed unitcatches up with the box and the lugs 55 engage the rear edges of boththe unfolded and folded sides of the box, the box is fed by said feedunit "23 between the rollers I32 and I83 of the straightening mechanism,whereupon the rollers I82 are moved up into contact with the under sideof the unfolded sides of the box, by the cam 255, through the medium ofcam arm 253 and roller arm I 81, while the rollers I83 are moved downinto contact with the upper sides of the folded sides 24!) of the box,by the cam 235, through the medium of the cam arm 255 and roller armI96, and the box being gripped between said rollers, the angularity ofsaid rollers straightens the folded sides of the box so that theoverlapping edges 24! of said sides are brought into proper positionwith relation to each other to be secured together by the staplingmachine 2!! as shown in Fig. 22. The box is then fed by the feedingmechanism 2 forwardly from between the straightening rollers I82 and I83under the stapling machine 2H, whereupon the trigger 2H5, associatedwith the feed unit by which the box is being fed, engages and escapesthe dogs 2| 5 successively, and throws the clutch of the staplingmachine 2!! into and out of engagement successively through the mediumof the dog bar 2, spring 230, arm 2I8, crank shaft 220, crank saidpulleys.

todrive a series of staples 242 successively, in suitably spacedrelation, through the over-lapping edges 24I of the folded sides of thebox, gas ,5 shown in Fig. 23 of the drawings. During each staplingoperation of the stapling machine in driving a staplethrough theoverlapping edges 2 of the folded sides of the box, the box is heldstationary by the stapling machine, and the enlO gaging bar 53 with itslugs 55, engaged by the rear edges of the box, is also held stationary,while the supporting bar 49 is moved forward, by the moving chains 24,toward said engaging bar 53, against the tension of the springsv 52,until 1711651 adjacent edges of the supporting bar 49 and engaging barEatengage the ends of the stop sleeves 55, which positions the engagingbar 50, and the folded box engaged by the lugs 55 of said bar, inperfect alignment while the staple is being driveno? through theoverlapping edges of the sides of the box, whereby the overlapping edgesof the sides of the box are positioned properly to receive the staples.The folded and stitched box is then fed on forwardly from the staplingmachine and de- 51 livered from the rear end of the table I2. "As eachbox is' fed from the hopper and folded, stitched and delivered,succeeding boxes are likewise fed, folded, stitched and delivered asabove described. a 030 In the modification of the trip mechanism, for

operating the stitching mechanism 1, a cam 2,35

and cam bell-crank lever 235 are substituted for the trigger 256,. dogsH5 and dog bar '2I4'and connections, and a conventional variable speed..3.

drive 23? is interposed between the motor and the reduction gear 35. Thecam 235 is secured on a shaft 238 journaled in bearings 239'mounted onthe upper longitudinal frame beams ID. The

cam 235 is made in two sections 245 and 241,40

formed with hubs 2 12 and 243 fitted on the shaft 239 and adjustablysecured on said shaft by set screws 244 and 245 respectively, wherebythe cam sections 245 and 2M may be relatively adjusted about theshaft239to lengthen or shorten the 0311145 235. A sprocket 245 issecured on the shaft238 and. a sprocket 2 5'! is secured on the shaft,28 of the box-feeding mechanism 2, over which sprockets extends a chain248. One arm of the bell-crank lever 236 carries a roller 249 forengaging the 5 0 cam 235, while the other end of said lever is connectedto the upper end of the link 222 whichis connected at its lower. end tothe treadle lever 223 of the stapling machine 2| I. The bell-crank lever235 is pivotally mounted at 255 on the under ,55

side of the upper frame beam Ill. The variable speed drive 231 is drivenby the motor 33 through a pulley 25! secured on the 'motor shaft 35,..xa

pulley '2 52 secured on the shaft 253 of the variable speed drive 23?and a belt 254 extending over ,60

The reduction gear 35 is driven from the Variable speed drive 231 by apulley 255 secured on the shaft 255 of said variable speed drive, apulley 25! secured on the shaft 258 of said reduction gear, and a belt259 extending 65 over said pulleys.

In the operation this form of trip mechanism the clutch of the staplingmachine 2 I I, by means of the cam 235, bell-crank lever 23E, link 222and treadle 223 and its connections, is held in en- 70 gagementcontinuously to maintain the stapling machine in continuous operation byits own motion while all of the staples are driven through theoverlapping edges 2M of the box, and, by

means of the variable speed drive 231, the speed 7 of the box feedingmechanism 2 may be varied to vary the speed of the movement of thefolded box through the stapling machine, whereby the spacing of thestaples driven by said machine through the overlapping edges of the boxmay be varied.

I do not limit my invention to the exact construction herein shown andparticularly described since Variations and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a box-making machine, a table, a pair of folding bars mounted oversaid table, means for feeding an unfolded box over said table and undersaid guide bars, a first folding means comprising a pair of rods andmeans for pushing the ends of said rods against two sides of said boxfor folding said sides respectively upwardly against the edges of saidfolding bars, a second folding means comprising a pair of rods and meansfor pushing the ends of said rods against said upwardly folded sides ofthe box for folding said sides downwardly over said folding bars inposition with their edges in overlapping relation, and means forsecuring said overlapping edges together.

2. In a box-making machine, a feed unit including a feed bar formed withupstanding lugs, means for advancing said feed unit to engage the rearedge of an unfolded box to feed said box forward, means for folding twosides of said box into position with the edges of said sidesoverlapping, jogging means for gripping said folded box and advancingsaid box beyond said feed unit, whereby the rear edges of said foldedsides are allowed to drop down in front of the lugs of said feed bar,when said sides are not folded straight and their rear edges have foldedupon said lugs, so that when said folded box passes beyond said joggingmeans, said rear edges of said sides of said box will be engaged by saidfeed-bar lugs and said folded box fed forward by said feed unit, meansfor straightening said folded sides of the box for properly positioningthe overlapping edges of said sides to be secured together, and meansfor securing said overlapping edges of said sides together.

3. In a box-making machine, a box-feed unit including a supporting bar,a box-engaging bar mounted on a pair of rods slidably mounting in saidsupporting bar springs surrounding said rods between said bars fornormally forcing said boxengaging bar away from said supporting bar, andsleeves surrounding said springs between said bars for limiting themovement of said supporting bar toward said box-engaging bar forcentering the folded edges of the box while staples are driven throughsaid overlapping edges.

4. In a box-making machine, means for folding two sides of a box intoposition with their edges overlapping, a pair of lower rollers, a pairof upper rollers, means for feeding said folded box between said lowerrollers and said upper rollers, means for moving said lower rollers andsaid upper rollers toward each other for gripping the folded boxtherebetween, with said upper rollers gripping said folded sidesrespectively and straightening the same into position for securing saidoverlapping edges together, and means for securing said overlappingedges together when said folded sides are straightened by said rollers.

5. In a box-making machine with straightening rollers, as claimed inclaim 4, said rollers being disposed at an angle to the direction offeeding movement of the folded box.

6. In a box-folding machine with straightening rollers, as claimed inclaim 4, said lower rollers converging in the direction of feedingmovement of the folded box, and said upper rollers converging in thedirection of feeding movement of the folded box.

7. In a box-making machine, a feed unit including a feed bar formed withupstanding lugs, feeding means for advancing said feed unit to causesaid lugs to engage the rear edge of an unfolded box to feed said boxforward, means for folding two sides of said box into position with theedges of said sides overlapping, jogging means comprising a pair oflower rollers and a pair of upper rollers, means for moving said lowerrollers and said upper rollers toward each other for gripping saidfolded box therebetween, and means for rotating said rollers to advancesaid gripped folded box beyond said lugs of said feed bar, whereby therear edges of said folded sides are allowed to drop down in front ofsaid lugs of said feed bar, when said sides are not folded straight andtheir rear edges have folded upon said lugs, so that when said foldedbox passes beyond said jogging means, said rear edges of said foldedsides of said box will be engaged by said feed-bar lugs and said foldedbox fed forward by said feeding means and said feed unit, means forstraightening said folded sides of the box for properly positioning theoverlapping edges of said folded sides to be secured together, and meansfor securing said overlapping edges of said sides together.

8. In a box-making machine, means for feed-' ing a box through themachine, means for folding two sides of the box in overlapping relationas the box is fed through the machine, means for stapling together saidoverlapping edges of said folded sides of the box, as the box is fedthrough the machine, means for varying the speed of said feeding means,without varying the speed of said stapling means, for varying thespacing of the staples driven through said overlapping edges of saidfolded sides.

9. In a box-making machine as claimed in claim 8, means for timing theoperation of said stapling means according to the speed of said feedingmeans, so that said stapling means will be operated only while thefolded box passes therethrough.

GEORGE SEIFERT.

